The Southern USA

I have traveled to more areas and cities in the USA than I have in Canada, most of which seem to be in the Southern USA. It is true that "south" does feel like its own little world.


Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Parts of Texas, Virgina, West Virgina, North Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, and the other south eastern states are generally referred to as "the south", even to those in California. In these states, there is a particular accent that while slightly different in each area, still holds a noticeable "south" characteristic. Those in the Northern states like to refer to it as a "hick" accent, while I find it to be very charming.

These states are also famous for their southern comfort food. Aka, fatty, deep fried, butter covered cooking! While poverty is a key reason to obesity, many like to say that the traditional southern food is the reason why many of the southern states have some of the highest obesity rates. A common saying by many residents of the south is "If it ain't fried, it ain't cooked!". Unfortunately, when I traveled there, the people I was with wanted to stick with common chain restaurants so I have not actually tried some of this famous southern foods.

Due to being an area with some very extreme religious groups, the "bible belt" is also located in this region. Whole towns are known to discriminate and harass those who are not religious, making it a very difficult place to live if one is an open atheist or practices a religion that differs from the "norm" in that location.

I personally love the south and would love nothing more than to live in Georgia or West Virgina. However, my husband is from California and has been raised to believe the southern states are where hicks live and refuses to move there in fear of developing the stereotypical accent.